Jasper County charter school moves forward

RIDGELAND - With one hurdle cleared, Ridgeland-based Royal Live Oaks Academy of the Arts & Sciences is getting closer to being an official charter school.

Last week the state department's charter school committee reviewed the proposed charter school's application and found it in compliance with charter law, according to S.C. Public Charter School District Superintendent Wayne Brazell.

On July 27, the application will be reviewed by the S.C. Charter School District and the district board will approve or deny that day.

Brazell said the committee recommended a few minor changes, but Brazell said he saw "no major problems." Upon receiving a formal letter of expected changes, Royal Live Oaks has seven days to make the corrections.

Brazell, who recently reviewed eight applications, said the committee was impressed with Royal Live Oaks, especially with curriculum expertise.

Brazell said the proposed school presented a plan that shows it has support and the capacity to operate a charter school. Support is important, Brazell noted, because a lack of it is often "the biggest obstacle" for charter school hopefuls.

The biggest test is July 27. Brazell said it is not a formality that the school will be approved because the district board gives a more thorough evaluation.

Royal Live Oaks, led by Les and Karen Wicks, plan to begin classes in August 2012 and Les Wicks is confident the school will be approved.

"There's no doubt in our mind that the school is a reality," he said. "This is happening."

Wicks said the school will create 50 jobs and he hopes many of the employees will be from Jasper County and the Lowcountry.

The plan is to follow the Wickses EdVISTA Cares program of differentiated education, which has children learn by finding their strengths and weaknesses and developing their critical-thinking skills.

The school will begin as a K-8 school and succeed each year to K-12. Originally the school planned to use the old hospital on Grays Highway, but Wicks said it will build its own 50,000-square-foot facility. He said a "property owner" gave a $77,000 donation that will go toward the land, which will be in town limits.

The facility will have 30 classrooms and include an auditorium, gymnasium and media center.

Wicks said he's received great support.

"They have a choice and they want us," he said. "We have hundreds and hundreds of names."